Anguilla to host inaugural CTO Sports Tourism Summit in 2027
Key Points(5)
- Discussions will focus on attracting visitors through sporting events, strengthening destination brands, building partnerships and ensuring that the economic benefits of sports tourism extend to local communities.
- CTO sees untapped regional potential CTO Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Dona Regis-Prosper said the summit would give Caribbean destinations a dedicated platform to exchange ideas and develop strategies for expanding the sector.
- “Sports is one of the most powerful connectors we have in the Caribbean, and its potential as a driver of tourism deserves greater regional attention,” Regis-Prosper said.
- “This summit will create a dedicated space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships and look more strategically at how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating meaningful benefits for our people.
- Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation.” The initiative reflects growing interest in sports tourism as a means of diversifying the Caribbean's tourism offerings beyond traditional leisure travel.
Anguilla will host the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) inaugural Sports Tourism Summit from August 12-14, 2027, as the region looks to capitalize on the growing potential of sporting events and experiences to attract visitors, generate economic activity and create opportunities for Caribbean communities.
The announcement was made during the CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Georgetown, Guyana, where regional tourism leaders gathered under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”
The three-day summit will bring together tourism and sports officials, athletes, event organizers, sports organizations, destination marketers, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders to explore how sport can become a more significant contributor to Caribbean tourism development.
Discussions will focus on attracting visitors through sporting events, strengthening destination brands, building partnerships and ensuring that the economic benefits of sports tourism extend to local communities.
CTO sees untapped regional potential
CTO Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Dona Regis-Prosper said the summit would give Caribbean destinations a dedicated platform to exchange ideas and develop strategies for expanding the sector.
“Sports is one of the most powerful connectors we have in the Caribbean, and its potential as a driver of tourism deserves greater regional attention,” Regis-Prosper said.
“This summit will create a dedicated space for destinations to share ideas, build partnerships and look more strategically at how sporting events and experiences can contribute to tourism growth while generating meaningful benefits for our people. Anguilla is an excellent destination in which to begin that conversation.”
The initiative reflects growing interest in sports tourism as a means of diversifying the Caribbean's tourism offerings beyond traditional leisure travel. Sporting competitions, training opportunities and other sports-related experiences can give visitors additional reasons to travel while creating business opportunities for accommodation providers, restaurants and other local enterprises.
For the CTO, the Anguilla gathering will provide an opportunity to examine how destinations can develop these offerings in ways that support sustainable and inclusive growth.
Connor wants Anguilla to help shape the market
Anguilla's selection as host also provides the island with an opportunity to strengthen its position in the regional sports tourism market while showcasing its wider tourism offerings and capabilities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events sector.
Cardigan Connor, the island's minister of health, tourism and sports and a former first-class cricketer, said the event aligned with Anguilla's ambition to play a greater role in advancing sports tourism throughout the Caribbean.
“Having spent much of my life in sports, I have seen firsthand the doors it can open,” Connor said.
“Anguilla sees tremendous potential at the intersection of sports and tourism — not only to attract visitors and generate economic activity, but also to provide pathways to training, international exposure, scholarships and careers for young Anguillians and Caribbean nationals.”
Connor identified the island's established tennis culture, championship golf offerings and wider sporting traditions as important assets in its effort to attract sports-related travel.
“Sports bring people together and generate reasons to travel,” he said. “With our tennis facilities, championship golf offerings and deep sporting traditions, we have an opportunity to position Anguilla more deliberately in this market. Hosting the first CTO Sports Tourism Summit allows us to showcase our strengths while helping to advance a regional conversation around this burgeoning market.”
Sport as a platform for health and community support
Connor also highlighted the potential for sporting initiatives to connect tourism development with broader social and health priorities.
Reflecting on the impact of cancer on families across the Caribbean and members of the region's cricketing community, he pointed to opportunities to use sports-related activities to raise funds and support people affected by the disease.
That approach would broaden the role of sports tourism beyond visitor arrivals and commercial returns, positioning sporting events as potential vehicles for community engagement and social support.
Anguilla has incorporated sports tourism into its destination development strategy for years, complementing its established appeal in luxury leisure travel, culinary experiences, wellness and other specialized tourism markets.
Tourist Board sees opportunity to showcase the island
Jameel Rochester, director of tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, said the summit would introduce a wider cross-section of tourism professionals and industry partners to the island's attractions and hospitality offerings.
“For Anguilla, sports tourism is about much more than staging an event. It is about creating another compelling reason to visit the destination and then connecting those visitors with our accommodations, restaurants, beaches, culture, experiences and, most important, our people,” Rochester said.
He added: “The summit allows us to demonstrate that a small destination can develop distinctive experiences, build smart partnerships and deliver the high level of hospitality for which Anguilla is known.”
The island will therefore have an opportunity to promote not only its sporting facilities but also the broader visitor experience that can encourage travelers to extend their stays and engage with local businesses and communities.
Summit details to follow
Further information about the CTO Sports Tourism Summit, including the venue, program, speakers and registration arrangements, will be announced in the coming months.
The event is expected to provide a regional forum for tourism and sports stakeholders to consider new partnerships and practical approaches to developing sports tourism across the Caribbean.
